jeffythequick said: [...] I'm normally very Pro-BMW, but nickel and diming people for what is standard in every other car makes them look like Spirit Airways, and cheapens the brand.
In 2008 I bought a used 330. I took it to a dealer to have all the fluids replaced and a couple minor repairs done. One of the windshield washer nozzles didn't work and one of the window switches was sticky.
The bill was $2400. Two thousand four hundred dollars.
The window switch was replaced. The cost of the part was $300. Three hundred bucks. For a switch.
The topper was the windshield washer nozzle. The fault was a kink in the hose. The hose was not replaced, the mechanic just straightened it out. Cost for this service: $90.
When I expressed dissatisfaction over accumulating $2400 of billing for only 3 hours of work, it was explained to me that BMW does not charge by the hour, but rather has a "book rate" for each repair category. Thus even jobs that are performed concurrently, such as repairing a window switch while the transmission fluid drains, are billed as if each item was a separate shop visit. There's no advantage to having multiple overlapping repairs done at once.
I explained that we had reached a tipping point in our relationship only one day into my owning a BMW. I asked the advisor to adjust the bill to something a helluvalot better than $800/hour or I would never buy so much as a keychain from them ever again. He refused.
Despite repeated requests to be unsubscribed, I still receive email invitations from that dealer to participate in their charity galas and golf tournaments. It's bad enough they won't leave me alone, but assuming I'm a golfer is just insulting!
BMW is one of only a handful of carmakers that charge for CarPlay access.
This is a greed play. Pure and simple. Essentially, you are renting your BMV for life. Avoid BMW.
Generally speaking, there is a reluctancy for carmakers to get Apple in between themselves and their customers. Therefore, many developed their own navi- and infotainment systems and integrated it with the car to a level that Apple/Android can’t match. The reason is their intrinsic fear for Apple as it tries to become a force in the automobile world - thereby enforcing their UX onto cars - reducing the role of the carmaker to a casing manufacturer. I am not saying what’s right or wrong, but I can understand their reluctancy. And when greed comes into place, we should respect the real champ...
My friend just bought a 2016 Toyota Highlander that does not have Apple CarPlay. It is obvious that Toyota put a LOT of time, resources and effort into developing their inhouse system. It is equally obvious that their inhouse system is crap.
Exactly. We have a 2016 Camry and the system as also crap. Probably the same crap as was in the Highlander. There's a reason consumers are flocking to and demanding Car Play - it's better.
My wife and I generally avoid talking on our phones while driving for safety reasons. One time we were driving in my Audi using Car Play and I got a call from work that I had to answer. The caller name came up in the screen in large, easy to read letters, I answered it using the speaker phone and hung up a minute later. Afterwards my wife said "Ok, I'm ok with you talking on the phone If you use CarPlay!"
I have a 2019 $60K BMW X5 that didn't come with wireless charging because I wouldn't buy the expensive upgrade package that included wireless charging and other stuff I didn't want. Wireless charger on Amazon < $10. The wireless charging pad area is still there in the car. In fact, if I put my phone down on it it makes Apple Pay come up on the iPhone display. Which is also a major pain.
BTW, you can purchase a BMW ApplePay 20 year subscription for a one-time $300 fee.
Comments
The bill was $2400. Two thousand four hundred dollars.
The window switch was replaced. The cost of the part was $300. Three hundred bucks. For a switch.
The topper was the windshield washer nozzle. The fault was a kink in the hose. The hose was not replaced, the mechanic just straightened it out. Cost for this service: $90.
When I expressed dissatisfaction over accumulating $2400 of billing for only 3 hours of work, it was explained to me that BMW does not charge by the hour, but rather has a "book rate" for each repair category. Thus even jobs that are performed concurrently, such as repairing a window switch while the transmission fluid drains, are billed as if each item was a separate shop visit. There's no advantage to having multiple overlapping repairs done at once.
I explained that we had reached a tipping point in our relationship only one day into my owning a BMW. I asked the advisor to adjust the bill to something a helluvalot better than $800/hour or I would never buy so much as a keychain from them ever again. He refused.
Despite repeated requests to be unsubscribed, I still receive email invitations from that dealer to participate in their charity galas and golf tournaments. It's bad enough they won't leave me alone, but assuming I'm a golfer is just insulting!
My wife and I generally avoid talking on our phones while driving for safety reasons. One time we were driving in my Audi using Car Play and I got a call from work that I had to answer. The caller name came up in the screen in large, easy to read letters, I answered it using the speaker phone and hung up a minute later. Afterwards my wife said "Ok, I'm ok with you talking on the phone If you use CarPlay!"
I have a 2019 $60K BMW X5 that didn't come with wireless charging because I wouldn't buy the expensive upgrade package that included wireless charging and other stuff I didn't want. Wireless charger on Amazon < $10. The wireless charging pad area is still there in the car. In fact, if I put my phone down on it it makes Apple Pay come up on the iPhone display. Which is also a major pain.
BTW, you can purchase a BMW ApplePay 20 year subscription for a one-time $300 fee.